Two layer expansion bracelet having resilient connectors



Jan. 15, 1963 w. F. HANLEIN 3,073,133

Two LAYER EXPANSION BRACELET HAVING RESILTENT CONNECTORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 23, 1959 LA f/v MJa a a H9 WFM M C a. l M/ 2 .7 f /IEE/ @E j fm 4 f EEITZM Z a 6 2 7 a W 6 2 Jan. 15, 1963 w. F. HANLEIN 3,073,133

TWO LAYER EXPANSION BRACELET HAVING RESILIENT CONNECTORS Filed Sept. 25,l 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ffarfzey.

3,973,133 Patented Jan. l5, 1963 free 3,073,133 TWG LAYER EXPANSION BRACELET HAVING RESILIENT CONNECTORS Wilfred F. Hanlein, Livingston, NJ., assigner to Forstner, Inc., Irvington, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Sept. 23, 1959, Ser. No. 841,856 6 Claims. (Cl. 63-5) The present invention relates to a ilexible band construction. More particularly, the present invention relates to an expansible bracelet assembly that is formed of a plurality of interconnected links and spring members, the links and spring members cooperating to produce a continuous link appearance on both the inner and outer surfaces of the bracelet assembly.

The expansible bracelet constructions utilized heretofore have been found to be satisfactory for most purposes. However, there are several features in these prior known devices that are objectionable and which the present invention is adapted to overcome. Prior to the instant invention, the heretofore known expansible bracelets were constructed such that the outer or ornamental links were pivotally connected at two or more points to biased interior link members. the interior and exterior link members were separated to form visible gaps or spaces therebetween, which spaces detracted from the ornamental appearance of the bracelet. These pivoted expansiblelink constructions were not only relatively complicated in structure, but were also difficult to assemble and/ or repair when maintenance was necessary. Thus, the overall cost of the bracelet was materially increased.

The present invention avoids the attendant difficulties that were inherent in these heretofore known devices by providing a plurality of tubular links that are folded from blank form. The tubular links are positioned in rows that are located in overlapping relation, the links being interconnected by wire spring members. The body of each spring member is positioned in a link and is formed with end portions that extend outwardly of the link and project into an adjacent overlapping link, whereby the adjacent rows of links are resiliently interconnected.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved expansible bracelet that is simple in construction and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and maintain.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an expansible bracelet that includes a plurality of hollow or tubular link members that are interconnected by springs.

Still another object is to provide an expansible link bracelet that includes a plurality of overlapping link members that are resiliently interconnected whereby, upon expansion thereof, the link members cooperate to form a continuous link construction that is free of objectionable spaces or gaps.

Still another object is to provide an expansible bracelet that includes springs that resiliently interconnect adjacent links in overlapping relation.

Still another object is to provide a novel interconnecting spring for an expansible bracelet, the body of which is adapted to be inserted into a link, each spring including an end portion that projects outwardly from the link for insertion into an adjacent link member.

Still another object is to provide a novel link that is adapted to retain a spring member therein.

Still another object is to provide a novel link that is formed in a hollow construction and that may be formed with end flaps for retaining an associated spring member therein.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following de- Upon expansion of the bracelet,

scription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bracelet embodied in the present invention, a portion of the link assembly being illustrated in full lines and the remainder of the bracelet being illustrated in dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in elevation of a fragment of the link assembly illustrated in FIG. l, the links being shown in the retracted position thereof;

FIG. 3 is a View similar to FIG. 2 showing the links in the expanded position thereof;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the portion of the link assembly illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the portion of the link assembly illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6 6 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 8 showing the links in a semi-expanded position thereof;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10--10 in FIG. 3 showing the links in the fully expanded position thereof;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a blank from which-a link is formed;

FIG. l2 is a perspective View of a link member prior to the insertion of a spring therein, the end flaps being illustrated in the open position thereof;

FIG. 13 is a perspective View of a link member similar to that illustrated in FIG. 12 showing a spring positioned therein with one of the end aps folded to the closed position thereof and a portion of the link being cut away to show the position of the spring therein;

FIG. 14 is an elevational view of the spring shown positioned in the link in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a side view of the spring illustrated in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a perspective View of a modified form of link and spring assembly, a portion of the link being cut away to show the position of the spring therein;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a further modified form of the invention showing an assembly of several links, the top links being broken away to show the position of the modified spring disposed therein;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of one of the links illustrated in FIG. 17, the rear face thereof being broken away to show the position of the modified spring disposed therein;

FIG. 19 is an elevational view of the modified spring illustrated in FIGS. l7 and 18; and

FIG. 20 is a side View of the modified spring shown in FIG. 19.

The present invention is adapted to be utilized particularly in the form of a bracelet, chain or the like. However, it is understood that the link construction to be described hereinafter may be utilized as an expansible chain in devices other than bracelets.

Referring now to the drawings, one form of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 15 and includes a bracelet assembly generally indicated in FIG. l at 10. The bracelet 10 is illustrated as being of the endless type, but it is also contemplated to construct the assembly in open form for attachment to the connecting ears of a watch, identication charm or a similar ornamental device.

Referring to FIGS. 4 an-d 5, the bracelet 10 is shown comprising a plurality of staggered overlapping links 12 that define an outer row indicated at 14 and an inner row indicated at 16. Each of the links 12 is formed in a hollow or tubular construction and is folded from the blank form as shown in FIG.` llwto the tubular form illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. in the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 15, the links 12, which may be stamped out in the blank frr'nshown in FIG. 1l, are detined by a body portion 18 to which are joined outwardly extending end flaps 20 intermediate the sides thereof. When the links 12 are folded to the tubular form as seen in FIG. 12, the body portion 1S is bent to define a top wall 21 (FIG. 10) side walls 22 and bottom Walls 24, the edges of the bottom walls 24 being positioned in engagingrelation to define aparting line 26. In'the position of the link shown in FIG. l12, the end flaps 20 are unfolded, thereby providing for introduction of a link connecting spring member generally indicated at 2S (FIG. 14) "into the interior of the tubular link. The spring member 28 as shown in FIGS. 14 and l5 has a hair-pin type of construction, being formed in a U or V configuration and including opposed dii/erging legs 30 and k32. Joined to thelegs 30, 32, respectively, are reversely extending end Vportions 34 and 3 6 that are offset with respect to the legs, as see'nin FIG. 15. kThes'pring members v23 are adapted to resiliently interconnect the outer andinner rows 14 and 1'6`of'the links 12 and for this purpose are inserted within the tubular links, the end portions 34 and 36'be`ing initially exposed as seen in FIG. 13. In order to retain the spring members 28 in place within the links 12, 'the end flaps 20 Vare'folded in the assembly operation to the position shown at the left-hand end ofthe link member in FIG. 13. As seen in FIG. 13, a space is provided between the folded end flaps 20 and the adjacent ends of the bottom walls 24 to accommodate the curved ends of the spring member. i

In' assembling the links 12 in the overlapping rows 14 `and 16 as illustrated in FIG.V 4 the exposed legs 30, 32 of each spring rnember'ZS are inserted into the interior of an overlapping adjacent link and into abutting relation with the inner surfaces ofthe side walls thereof. The legs 30,

' 32 of the spring member 28 are compressed inwardly when the spring 28 is inserted into the linkand thereby cause the end portions 34, 36 to assume the crossed configuration as shown in FIG. 13. Thus, when the end portions 34, 36 are inserted intoian adjacent link, they are under tension and `tend to be biased against the side walls thereof as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. In assembling the spring members 2S in thelinks 12, the position of the spring members therein is reversed with respect to the outer and inner rows 14 and 16, and thus, in order to interconnect the outer and inner rows of overlapping links, the end portions 30, 32 of the spring membersZS of the outer row 14 face in one direction, while` in the inne-r row 16 the spring member end portions face in the opposite direction. Because the end portions 34, 36 are offset with respect to the legs 30, 32, they easily project into an overlapping link of the opposite row of links. As illustrated more clearly in FIG. 7, the end portions 34, 36 of the spring members 23 that are positioned in the outer row 14 extend into the adjacent links of the overlapping inner row 16 and bear against theside panels 22. thereof. Conversely, the spring members 28 in the inner row 16 are positioned in the opposite direction such that their end portions extend into the adjacent links of the overlapping outer row 14 and bear against the side panels thereof. As seen in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, the top panel 21 of the links 12 located in both the inner and outer rows 14 and 16 face outwardly whereby an identical inner and outer surface is provided. Thus,'contrary to those bracelets and chains known heretofore, the bracelet embodied herein presents an unusual appearance wherein both the inner and outer surfaces have a nished appearance.

When the bracelet is expanded to the position shown in FIGS. 5, 7, 9 or 10, the spring action is such that the end portions 34 and 36 rotate or pivot outwardly from the position shown in FIG. 13. Expressed differently, `expansion ofthe Vbracelet appliesV a torque or moment to the end portions 34 and 36, said portions, in effect, pivoting outwardly with the curved` connections 37 functioning as a fulcrum or pivot point. It is this action which enabls the relatively thin wire springs 2S to exert an extremely strong retracting bias to the bracelet and one which does not appreciably weaken even after repeated expanding of the bracelet. On the other hand, the force required to expand the bracelet may easily be kept at the desired minimum by properly selecting the gauge and resilience of the wire springs.

The simplicity of the construction of the present invention is emphasized by the fact that the spring members 2S and links 12 are the only elements that comprise the bracelet assembly. The spring members 23 are securely retained in place lby the end flaps Ztl, and the resilience of the legs 30, 32 and end portions 34, 36 enables the links to be easily expanded and retracted. When the bracelet is expanded to'the position shown in FIG. 9, the bottom panels 24 are seen between the spaced links 12, and thus a continuous link appearance is achieved that is distinct from those Vbracelets known heretofore wherein a gap or space results upon expansion of the bracelet. In FIGS. 3 and 10, the bracelet has been fully expanded to the point whereby the links of the outer row 14 just clear the sides of the inner row 16. However, here again even in the maximum expanded position, the resulting space or gap 4between the links is negligible, and a continuous link appearance is achieved.

The links of the bracelet construction as illustrated and described herein are retained in position essentially by the coaction of the end ilaps 20 bearing against the outer ends of the spring members 28.V Thus, it is seen that in order to adjust the size of the band or bracelet it is only necessaryto release the end flaps of a link 28 and then remove or 'add links as desired.

Referring now to FIG. 16, a modified form of the invention is illustrated, the modification residing primarily inthe manner in which the spring member 2S is retained within a link 12. In the construction shown in FiG. 16, the link 12 is formed without the end flaps 20. However, in order to retain the spring members within the link, a dimple is impressed at the parting line 26 of the bottom panels 24 thereby resulting in an inwardly extending projection 38. The projection 38 is formed at one end of the tubular link 12, and the spring is retained therein by snapping the U or V of the spring over the projection. The links 12 are assembled with the spring members 28 in the manner described above, and a continuous link appearance is achieved as seen from the outer or inner rows 14 and 16 in the expanded or retracted positions of the bracelet construction.

Referring now to FIGS. 17 through 20, another modified form of the invention is illustrated and comprises a hollow or tubular link indicated at 40. The link 4t) includes opstanding lugs 42 that are formed on the bottom panels thereof, the lugs 42 being positioned interiorly of the tubulary link in the folded position thereof. The lugs 42 are adapted to retain the spring members in positi-on within the link 40 and thereby eliminate the requirement for the folded end ap 20 illustrated and described in connection with the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 through 15. The spring member to be utilized with the link 40 is shown in FIGS. 19 and 20I and is generally indicated at 46. As shown, the spring member 46 is formed with a main leg 48 that has an inverted S configuration formed therein to denne a recess 50. One end of the leg 4Sterminates in a reversely extending end portion 52 that is offset with respect to the leg, while the other end terminates in a reversely extending end portion 54 that lies substantially in the same plane as the leg 43.

As illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18, two of the springs 46 are required for each link 40 and are positioned therein such that the recess 50 snaps around a lug 42. The end portions 54 lie along the adjacent side panel, while the offset end portions 52 extend outwardly of the link and are adapted to project into an adjacent overlapping link as shown in FIG. 17. In this form of my invention, when the bracelet is expanded, the spring action is such that each spring leg 48 is compressed or forced toward its end portion 54. This results in a slightly weaker spring action than is achieved by the preferred form of my invention wherein a pivotal or torque-like movement is irnparted to the ends 34 and 36, as aforedescribed.

It is seen that the present invention defines a bracelet that is extremely simple in construction, requiring only two basic elements. The bracelet may be easily assembled or disassembled when adjustment is necessary. The use of the spring as described insures a uniform expansion of the bracelet, and there is little likelihood of the springs breaking or losing their resiliency, paritcularly in the preferred form of my invention. Because of the relatively few parts involved and because of the nature of the assembly thereof, the bracelet can -be assembled without the use of rivets, soldering or other permanent connections that are utilized in the prior known bracelet con structions.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bracelet construction, rst and second rows of elongated tubular links in side-by-side relation with the links of one row in staggered overlapping relation with respect to the links of the other row, each link having ends disposed at the longitudinal edges of said construction, individual spring means in each link resiliently interconnecting said overlapping rows of links, said spring means each comprising a pair of joined spaced legs, each of which has an olset reversely bent end portion projecting from an end of the associated link, both said end portions of each spring means projecting from the same end of its associated link, one of said end portions extending into one of the adjacent overlapping links of the other row, and the other of said end portions extending into the other adjacent overlapping link, said end portions normally biasing the links of each row to contracted condition, whereupon when the bracelet is expanded, said end portions automatically pivot with respect to their lrespective legs so as to set up an increasingly greater torque as the bracelet is further expanded, and means for retaining said spring means in their respective links.

2. The bracelet of claim 1 further characterized in that said spring means consists of a wire, each of said links having side walls spaced from each other a distance just slightly greater than the diameter of said wire.

3. In a bracelet construction, first and second rows of elongated tubular links in side-by-side relation with the links of one row in staggered overlapping relation with respect to the links of the other row, each link having ends disposed at the longitudinal edges of said construction, individual spring means in each link resiliently interconnecting said overlapping rows of links, each `of said spring means comprising a substantially V-sh-aped wire having opposed legs, each of which has an offset reversely bent end portion projecting from an end of the associated link, both said end portions of each spring means projecting from the same end of its associated link, one of said end portions extending into one of the adjacent overlapping links of the other row, and the other of said end portions extending into the other adjacent overlapping link, said end portions normally biasing the links of each row to contracted condition, whereupon when the bracelet is expanded, said end portions automatically pivot with respect to their respective legs so as to set up an increasingly greater torque as the bracelet is further expanded, and means for retaining said spring means in their respective links.

4. The bracelet of claim 3 further characterized in that the V-shaped spring means of one row of links all have their closed ends at the same end of their respective links, and the spring means of the other row all have their closed ends at the opposite end of their respective links.

5. The bracelet of claim 3 further characterized in that each of said links has side Walls spaced from each other a distance just slightly greater than the diameter of said wire.

6. In a bracelet construction, lirst and second rows of elongated tubular links in side-by-side relation with the links of one row in staggered overlapping relation with respect to the links of the other row, each link having ends disposed at the longitudinal edges of said construction, in-

dividua] spring means in each link resiliently interconnecting said overlapping rows of links, said spring means each comprising a pair of spaced disjoined elongated members, each of which has an otset reversely bent end portion projecting from an end of the associated link, said end portions of each spring means projecting from the same end of the associated link, the other end of each elongated member terminating within the associated link, one of said end portions extending into one of the adjacent overlapping links of the other row, and the other of said end portions extending into the other adjacent overlapping link, said end portions normally biasing the links of each row to contracted condition, whereupon when the bracelet is expanded, said end portions automatically pivot with respect to their respective elongated members so as to set up an increasingly greater torque as the bracelet is further expanded, and means for retaining said spring means in their respective links.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,371,765 Levine Mar. 20, 1945 2,819,585 Binder Jan. 14, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 250,440 Switzerland June 16, 1948 262,483 Switzerland Sept. 16, 1949 547,222 Italy Aug. 20, 1956 1,148,746 -France June 24, 1957 1,014,363 Germany Aug. 22, 1957 801,850 Great Britain Sept. 24, 1958 1,045,136 Germany Nov. 27, 1958 1,059,221 Germany June 11, 1959 

1. IN A BRACELET CONSTRUCTION, FIRST AND SECOND ROWS OF ELONGATED TUBULAR LINKS IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION WITH THE LINKS OF ONE ROW IN STAGGERED OVERLAPPING RELATION WITH RESPECT TO THE LINKS OF THE OTHER ROW, EACH LINK HAVING ENDS DISPOSED AT THE LONGITUDINAL EDGES OF SAID CONSTRUCTION, INDIVIDUAL SPRING MEANS IN EACH LINK RESILIENTLY INTERCONNECTING SAID OVERLAPPING ROWS OF LINKS, SAID SPRING MEANS EACH COMPRISING A PAIR OF JOINED SPACED LEGS, EACH OF WHICH HAS AN OFFSET REVERSELY BENT END PORTION PROJECTING FROM AN END OF THE ASSOCIATED LINK, BOTH SAID END PORTIONS OF EACH SPRING MEANS PROJECTING FROM THE SAME END OF ITS ASSOCIATED LINK, ONE OF SAID END PORTIONS EXTENDING INTO ONE OF THE ADJACENT OVERLAPPING LINKS OF THE OTHER ROW, AND THE OTHER OF SAID END PORTIONS EXTENDING INTO THE OTHER ADJACENT OVERLAPPING LINK, SAID END PORTIONS NORMALLY BIASING THE LINKS OF EACH ROW TO CONTRACTED CONDITION, WHEREUPON WHEN THE BRACELET IS EXPANDED, SAID END PORTIONS AUTOMATICALLY PIVOT WITH RESPECT TO THEIR RESPECTIVE LEGS SO AS TO SET UP AN INCREASINGLY GREATER TORQUE AS THE BRACELET IS FURTHER EXPANDED, AND MEANS FOR RETAINING SAID SPRING MEANS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE LINKS. 